USB - SPDIF converters

[AndyPandy]

I wondered if this would be helpful to anyone.

By way of background I've been mucking around with all flavours of computer audio for around 6 years now. I've used windows, linux and mac solutions. Built quite a few and have tried a great many hardware and software combos. I particularly like Linux and Music Player Daemon (which is what the Bryston BDP-1 runs). Linux is great fun but you need to learn a little about it to get it working properly. It is an incredibly low cpu overhead os and can easily run off flash memory. Linux is out of the box bit perfect up to 24/192 these days: well it is if you can get your output to play nice: one of the reasons the @Juli card was chosen in the PK100 I wager.

I've settled on a mix of a Linux box (Auraliti PK100) running bnc out from a modded Esi@Juli card and MPD and my MBP for server duties. I typically use Audirvana for my playback software on a Mac. Sometimes AE's Fidelia and WaveEditor.

A problem a great many come across is how to get their data out from a 'puter via usb and convert it to a spdif signal. There are many many solutions out there. I like the following:

1. jkeny modded hi face

1. Audiophilleo 2

.

Both offer to my mind the best bang for the buck out there. Both are excellent. The Audiophilleo has the advantage of being plug and play for MAC/Linux.

I'm currently using the Audiophilleo, in preference to the modded Esi@Juli card that the Auraliti comes standard with, and also with my Mac.

Here is a picture of my MBP plugged to my Lux 05:

The grey cigarette packet size box plugs straight into my spdif in. It gets its data via USB.

jkeny also just come out with a hiface based sabre dac. I should get to hear one soon as I have a friend reviewing it. Like all jkeny's products I expect good things.

Happy hi fi.

[joeinid]

Thanks Andy!

I was thinking of the Audiophilleo 2 or maybe even a Weiss INT202/203 firewire to s/pdif but still doing some research. This gives me more to think about.

Joe

[AndyPandy]

The Weiss is great but alot of $$: mind you from your gear list I don't think that is such a worry mate!. The Audiophilleo 2 does a splendid job and is async as well. Plus it has a lovely analogue waveform in the spdif out: best I have seen. And the jitter figures are unreal.

Oh hang on - you've got a MH Lio 8 - I used to own one of those. What do you need a USB - spdif for? The MH can spdif out.

There isn't much in it between the Jkeny and the Audiophilleo sound wise: both are great. I just happen to have the AUdiophilleo here now.

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by AndyPandy

Oh hang on - you've got a MH Lio 8 - I used to own one of those. What do you need a USB - spdif for? The MH can spdif out.

Hi Andy,

I should be getting a Burmester 089 in a couple of weeks and want to use the dac inside it. I figured I'd go straight out from the computer to the spdif in on the 089. The LIO-8 gets me xlr-aes out, not spdif, unless I'm mistaken.

PS I just realized I can get an AES to spdif converter for a lot less. Hmmmm, something to try.

Joe

[AndyPandy]

Sorry Joe: when I was talking spdif I included AES - which is just a form of spdif really.
Does the Burmy have an AES in? I guess not or you wouldn't be looking....If not watch the AES - Spdif converters - they can degrade the sound a far stack...you have another link in the chain which can be deleterious. Having said that the Audiophilleo 2 (&1) I can wholeheartedly recommend. Good kit. I like the JKeny because it's not bus powered. But really - I can't hear that much difference between the units.

The MH has VERY good clocks as I remember: how's the bass with the Lio8: prodigious eh...

Congrat's on your gear mate: its lovely. I bet those Nola's bump along alright.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by joeinid

I should be getting a Burmester 089 in a couple of weeks and want to use the dac inside it.

Joe

Someone's got the Burmester Bug...

Awesome!

[joeinid]

Ivan, It's hard to resist the Burmester Bug. It can be as fatal as the LuFlu .


Thank you very much Andy, no worries. The MH really is a great piece and a lot of fun to play with. I really don't need anything else, but I could not resist the 089. I think the 089 has Toslink and spdif in only.

My Nolas really satisfy. For my room and for a speaker of such a small size, they really sound great. They almost sound electrostatic in quality. Big open sound.

The Audiophilleo seems to keep coming to the top. I think it sells for around $900. The Weiss INT202 is closer to $1400 just for the interface, no dac. I'll have to check out the JKeny. Thanks for the advice.

Joe

[cmalak]

Joe/Andy Pandy...there is a review of the Berkley USB-SPDIF converter ($1,695) in the current issue of TAS. Looks like another top notch converter but it should be for that kind of dosh, especially when converters from the likes of Musical Fidelity at $169 have also gotten very decent reviews. Enjoy!

By the way guys, just a reminder, there is another thread that was started by Karl (Kfr01) here: http://audioaficionado.org/digital-m...4-192-usb.html where he solicits feedback on both 24/192-capable USB DACs and on USB-SPDIF converters. If you go to the first post in the thread he has a list for both categories that he periodically updates and I think it is a good resource/reference.

Enjoy

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Enjoy!

By the way guys, just a reminder, there is another thread that was started by Karl (Kfr01) here: http://audioaficionado.org/digital-m...4-192-usb.html where he solicits feedback on both 24/192-capable USB DACs and on USB-SPDIF converters. If you go to the first post in the thread he has a list for both categories that he periodically updates and I think it is a good resource/reference.

Enjoy

Thanks Cyril, I forgot about that thread.

[AndyPandy]

The Audiophilleo 1 is $900 and the Audiophilleo 2 is $587. Same tech just less bells and whistles.

Gosh Joe - Burmester flu: I've never had the good fortune to hear Burmester gear. Massive reputation of course: is an all Burmester system approaching?

Thanks Cyril: sorry I didn't do a search first - just whacked up the post. Thanks for that info: I was aware of the Berkeley but won't be demoing it: not at that price point. Those guys sure make great gear. I wonder when someone will do a thunderbolt interface.

Here are jkeny's pages: https://sites.google.com/site/hiface...ome/mk3-hiface